Norton United Win The First Division Trophy
Thu 29th March 2012 | General | By Ian Templeman
Two goals in the second period of extra time saw Norton United through to victory over Wigan Robin Park in the final of the First Division Trophy.
It was an evenly matched game throughout, and for a long time it looked like penalties would be needed to decide the destination of the new First Division Trophy, until Norton hit the front late on.
The Robins took a first half lead courtesy of a cracking goal from Ryan Small, but Norton were level there minutes after the restart from a Tom Winkle penalty.
With no further scoring, the game moved into extra time, and two goals in the last eight minutes from substitutes Delroy Fox and Dan Brown clinched victory for United.
On a dry and clear night at Ramsbottom United's Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Norton almost got off to a dream start inside the opening 30 seconds of the game, when Paul Rutter got on the end of a through ball and beat Robins' keeper Jay Foulds with a shot at full stretch, only to be denied by a great block from Luke Faulkener.
Wigan hit back and on 6 minutes Dean Callaway hit a dipping volley from the edge of the penalty area that just cleared the Norton crossbar.
The best chances in the opening period came on 15 minutes, when a corner kick from the right was cleared high into the air, and Wigan's Luke Faulkener was first to the ball to power a header goalwards that Norton keeper Lance Dyche pushed on to the crossbar.
Both sides enjoyed plenty of territory and possession as the half wore on, with the better chances falling to Wigan. After a long range effort from Ben Kay flew wide of the far post, Steve Edwards saw a similar effort miss the target from 30 yards.
But eight minutes from the end of the first half, Wigan went ahead with a goal fit to grace any cup final. A move down the right flank found Ryan Small in space 25 yards from goal, and after taking a touch, he rifled a cracking shot in off the underside of the bar that gave Dyche in the Norton goal no chance.
It almost got better for Wigan two minutes before the break, when Phil Howard took a quick free kick that played Steve Edwards in on goal, and when Dyche parried his shot, the ball fell to Michael Sykes-Wright who sidefooted the ball into the net from close range. But the Wigan celebrations were brought to an abrupt end as the assistant referee signalled offside.
Three minutes into the second half Norton drew level from the penalty spot, with Tom Winkle coolly converting the spot kick after Paul Rutter had been clipped in the box.
The remainder of the second half saw plenty of commitment from both sides, but little in the way of clear cut chances to trouble either keeper. Norton's Michael Machin had the most noteworthy efforts, first chipping the ball over the advancing Foulds into the net, only to be flagged offside, and then being denied by Foulds from a shot that the Wigan keeper gathered at the near post.
With no further goals, the game moved into extra time, and in the opening minutes of the first period, Norton grabbed the initiative with Lee Talbot being denied by a good save from Foulds, before Tom Fogg just failed to connect with a cross to the far post.
But with just eight minutes of extra time remaining, Norton went ahead with a goal from substitute Delroy Fox. There seemed little danger when the ball was played out to Fox wide on the right, but he drove a low cross into the penalty area that evaded defenders and attackers alike before creeping into the far corner of the net just inside the post.
As the game moved into stoppage, Norton made sure of victory with a third goal, when Dan Brown beat the offside trap to collect a through ball from Richard Smith, and beat Jay Foulds with a cool finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Norton United captain Wayne Brotherton is pictured below receiving the new First Division Trophy from League Secretary John Deal, who donated the new trophy to the League.
Norton United Win The First Division Trophy
Thu 29th March 2012 | General
By Ian Templeman
Two goals in the second period of extra time saw Norton United through to victory over Wigan Robin Park in the final of the First Division Trophy.
It was an evenly matched game throughout, and for a long time it looked like penalties would be needed to decide the destination of the new First Division Trophy, until Norton hit the front late on.
The Robins took a first half lead courtesy of a cracking goal from Ryan Small, but Norton were level there minutes after the restart from a Tom Winkle penalty.
With no further scoring, the game moved into extra time, and two goals in the last eight minutes from substitutes Delroy Fox and Dan Brown clinched victory for United.
On a dry and clear night at Ramsbottom United's Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Norton almost got off to a dream start inside the opening 30 seconds of the game, when Paul Rutter got on the end of a through ball and beat Robins' keeper Jay Foulds with a shot at full stretch, only to be denied by a great block from Luke Faulkener.
Wigan hit back and on 6 minutes Dean Callaway hit a dipping volley from the edge of the penalty area that just cleared the Norton crossbar.
The best chances in the opening period came on 15 minutes, when a corner kick from the right was cleared high into the air, and Wigan's Luke Faulkener was first to the ball to power a header goalwards that Norton keeper Lance Dyche pushed on to the crossbar.
Both sides enjoyed plenty of territory and possession as the half wore on, with the better chances falling to Wigan. After a long range effort from Ben Kay flew wide of the far post, Steve Edwards saw a similar effort miss the target from 30 yards.
But eight minutes from the end of the first half, Wigan went ahead with a goal fit to grace any cup final. A move down the right flank found Ryan Small in space 25 yards from goal, and after taking a touch, he rifled a cracking shot in off the underside of the bar that gave Dyche in the Norton goal no chance.
It almost got better for Wigan two minutes before the break, when Phil Howard took a quick free kick that played Steve Edwards in on goal, and when Dyche parried his shot, the ball fell to Michael Sykes-Wright who sidefooted the ball into the net from close range. But the Wigan celebrations were brought to an abrupt end as the assistant referee signalled offside.
Three minutes into the second half Norton drew level from the penalty spot, with Tom Winkle coolly converting the spot kick after Paul Rutter had been clipped in the box.
The remainder of the second half saw plenty of commitment from both sides, but little in the way of clear cut chances to trouble either keeper. Norton's Michael Machin had the most noteworthy efforts, first chipping the ball over the advancing Foulds into the net, only to be flagged offside, and then being denied by Foulds from a shot that the Wigan keeper gathered at the near post.
With no further goals, the game moved into extra time, and in the opening minutes of the first period, Norton grabbed the initiative with Lee Talbot being denied by a good save from Foulds, before Tom Fogg just failed to connect with a cross to the far post.
But with just eight minutes of extra time remaining, Norton went ahead with a goal from substitute Delroy Fox. There seemed little danger when the ball was played out to Fox wide on the right, but he drove a low cross into the penalty area that evaded defenders and attackers alike before creeping into the far corner of the net just inside the post.
As the game moved into stoppage, Norton made sure of victory with a third goal, when Dan Brown beat the offside trap to collect a through ball from Richard Smith, and beat Jay Foulds with a cool finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Norton United captain Wayne Brotherton is pictured below receiving the new First Division Trophy from League Secretary John Deal, who donated the new trophy to the League.
